J.C. Watts mulls bid for RNC chair

posted at 10:31 am on December 3, 2012 by Ed Morrissey

After the shocking loss in the November election, Republicans are once again considering whether to change leadership at the top. Reince Priebus wants a second term as RNC chair and still has considerable support for another go, but apparently some committee members have begun recruiting alternative candidates, among them former Congressman J.C. Watts. Watts tells Politico that he’s not sure he’ll run, but he’s interested:

Watts, an African-American conservative who served in the House from 1994-2002, said the GOP defeat on Election Day demonstrates that Republicans need to broaden their appeal to minority voters, and cannot continue on their current path if the party is to be successful in presidential races.

“My concern right now, and I don’t say this necessarily as a candidate [for RNC chairman], my concern is that as a Republican, every single Republican in America ought to be concerned about what has happened in 2008 and 2012,” Watts said in an interview with POLITICO. “In this business, if you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

Watts would not identify who is lobbying him to challenge Priebus, and reiterated that he has not made a decision to definitely jump into the race.

Watts also says that he believes the RNC needs to fundamentally rethink its “ad hoc” approach to outreach:

Watts complained that Republican efforts to reach out to minority groups have not been sustained or consistent during his 20-plus years as a politician, but rather are executed on ad hoc basis – usually in election years. In Watts’ view, and that of many other Republican leaders and party operatives, if the GOP doesn’t dramatically improve its image with black and Hispanic voters, it will not be able to win back the White House.

“These old, tired, pathetic models of saying, ‘Okay, in the black [community], when there’s a presidential election, we will form an African-American Coalition for [Mitt] Romney or [Sen. John] McCain,’ I’ll never do that again. That is a joke, that is so tired,” Watts said. “It’s window dressing to say, ‘African Americans for Romney’ or ‘African-American Coalition’ or ‘African-American Advisory Council.’ That’s insulting to the people that they ask to do it when you don’t put an permanent infrastructure in place to give it credibility.”

I think Priebus did a pretty good job, considering the state of the RNC when he first took over. The organization was deeply in debt, and fundraising was in disarray. The RNC didn’t have a credible GOTV effort in 2010 in the week before Election Day in those midterms, and ended up relying out outside groups to drive their message. They were better prepared in this cycle, but just got out-organized by Team Obama and the DNC.

That said, I’m a big fan of J. C. Watts for precisely the kind of insight he has here. Republicans cannot compete with the kind of lackluster effort that has been made in urban centers. It isn’t just the infrastructure that’s the problem, though; it’s also a lack of vision and specific policies from candidates and the party to put conservative principles to work in these communities to make the lives of voters better. We need both infrastructure and policies, on an ongoing basis, and not just — as Watts says — in the last few months before an election. Republicans have to make themselves part of these communities, not just occasional tourists.

Perhaps Watts won’t run for RNC chair, or the RNC will think someone else will serve better. They’d better find a way to put Watts in position to make his insights a reality, though, if the GOP wants to compete in future elections.

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I’m sorry, I like J.C. a lot but I’ve also seem him struggle through too many interviews. He’s just not that good at articulating the message in a clear and succinct way. And I’m doubtful he’d be aggressive enough with a slimy media. Maybe he’s gotten better. I don’t know.

I think Priebus did a pretty good job, considering the state of the RNC when he first took over. The organization was deeply in debt, and fundraising was in disarray. The RNC didn’t have a credible GOTV effort in 2010 in the week before Election Day in those midterms, and ended up relying out outside groups to drive their message. They were better prepared in this cycle, but just got out-organized by Team Obama and the DNC.

I’m not inclined to cut these guys a lot of slack. Yes, they may have some restored some theoretical “respectability” to the organization, but their actual efforts to win the election looked just as bad as anything Steele ever did. Let’s get someone new in, please.

I think Priebus did a pretty good job, considering the state of the RNC when he first took over. The organization was deeply in debt, and fundraising was in disarray.

He did a good job in terms of raising money and paying off the debt that Steele left him with. But in terms of getting Republicans elected which is the ultimate goal of the RNC chairman, he was a miserable failure. Maybe not as bad as John Cornyn, but a failure nonetheless.

That’s insulting to the people that they ask to do it when you don’t put an permanent infrastructure in place to give it credibility.”

This is the core issue. As with hispanics, conservative groups simply do not have a permanent presence in the big cities. They aren’t at the community board meetings, they aren’t forming after school programs, they aren’t going door to door in the projects. Liberals are. Until you stop being so scared of the inner city, you’ll wither along with the exurban and suburban populations.

I’m fine with the idea of JC, but I highly doubt there is going to be any breakthrough with the black community. What do we have to offer the Obamaphone woman? We can do “outreach”, but unless there’s a goody in our outstretched hands, they are going to vote D all day long. How do you convince foolish people that a promise of opportunity is better for them than a guaranteed gov’t handout?

Wasn’t this the exact same argument made to advance Michael Steele’s chairmanship, that because he was black it would help the GOP broaden its appeal? How did that work out, exactly? I’m not suggesting Watts is a bad choice, but let’s not make the same mistake voters have twice now and select someone simply because we believe a certain bloc will like us more.

J.C is a good man, so why the hell burn him by making him the RNC chair? L.I.B (Let it burn) Burn baby Burn…

SWalker on December 3, 2012

There aren’t really a lot of other opportunities for him, politically. Oklahoma has two strong GOP Senators now, and plenty more good conservatives waiting in the wings. He may actually see this as an opportunity to position himself when a Senate seat does open up (in Oklahoma, the real battle will be in the GOP primary).

Not saying he’ll be great as RNC chair but we can, and have, done a lot worse. As for Priebus, I’m neither thrilled nor unhappy with him. The results were a big dissapointment but I don’t see where the RNC chair could’ve made much of a difference (do you think the Dems won in 2006 because of Dean? or that we won in 2010 because of Steele?). The RNC’s main job is to raise money and he did that.

Why should we renominate Priebus, when he could not win us his home state. We need to get someone else as RNC who will do a better job of Winning. WHO CARES if the RNC has money, when THEY LOSE ELECTIONS.

Wasn’t this the exact same argument made to advance Michael Steele’s chairmanship, that because he was black it would help the GOP broaden its appeal? How did that work out, exactly? I’m not suggesting Watts is a bad choice, but let’s not make the same mistake voters have twice now and select someone simply because we believe a certain bloc will like us more.

changer1701 on December 3, 2012

True to some extent, but unfair to compare Watts to Steele. He’s smarter and, more importantly, he seems to have the self-discipline to not just spout off on touchy topics without thinking things through (and that’s why Newt should never be RNC chair).

Why should we renominate Priebus, when he could not win us his home state. We need to get someone else as RNC who will do a better job of Winning. WHO CARES if the RNC has money, when THEY LOSE ELECTIONS.

BroncosRock on December 3, 2012

He did pretty well with his home state when he was state chair in 2010, and at least we didn’t lose anything we already had in Wisconsin this time. But if that’s your criteria why don’t we just get somebody from Wyoming or Utah?

Blacks are not going to vote for republicans if the world ends. Latino…latino…latino are the newly chosen peoples. Of course, they will also not vote for republicans if their welfare depended on it. WE ARE SCREWED…LET IT BURN.

We did not knock out Obama, we lost Senate races (including Wisconsin) and we fell a few seats in the House. This wasn’t because of a super-popular President, but because of a President who had a significantly better infrastructure. Preibus needs to explain how he was caught off guard, and how Republicans can improve GOTV efforts and find new voters.

True to some extent, but unfair to compare Watts to Steele. He’s smarter and, more importantly, he seems to have the self-discipline to not just spout off on touchy topics without thinking things through (and that’s why Newt should never be RNC chair).

BuzzCrutcher on December 3, 2012 at 10:57 AM

I don’t think it’s unfair when the criteria for determining whether both should run the RNC appear to be the same (RE appeal to blacks). I think it should be based on fundraising and organizational ability, as well as how they handle the media. Watts may very well be far better at those tasks than Steele, or Priebus for that matter, in which case I would support his bid. But that alone should determine the best person for the job.

Until the Repubs are willing and effectively speaking to those sub-groups of Americans the Democrats captured,,,,,,,,African-Americans, Single Women, College Students, Latinos, et.al. combined with 21st Century communications infrastructure……they’ll lag behind.

I actually like West…and not because of the color of his skin.

I am also curious as to what and which direction American Crossroads goes and if they start now putting all that money to work today instead of the next election.

Not that the rnc can’t or shouldn’t have a black or other minority for chairman, but if Steele didn’t help win over minorities to the rnc and the dnc has yet to have a minority as the head of their party – if you asterix Obama – then it would seem to me that the race of the rnc chair is irrelevant. It’s going to take more than outreach to win over minorities to the rnc. As it currently stands, minorities seem to want an rnc that is a rebadged dnc. If the rnc goes down that path of trying to win over minorities by giving them what the dnc can, then there really is only one party and thie rnc will alienate a huge portion of their conservative base in the name of political expediency.

I like rev. Watts, but his message has never resonated on a national level yet because most minorities don’t want to accept what he’s preaching. Instead they want to accept what Sharpton and JJ have preached for years.

Even going over the fiscal cliff might not change people’s minds. True politcal change doesn’t begin in the political arena just as politics cannot provide the ultimate answers or actions for what ails our nation. When the rnc figures this out, maybe then they’ll get back on track.

That said, I’m a big fan of J. C. Watts for precisely the kind of insight he has here. Republicans cannot compete with the kind of lackluster effort that has been made in urban centers.

There is no amount of effort that will yield Republicans more than 10-12% of the black vote. Bush heavily invested in black outreach during his first term, by appointing several blacks to his cabinet and trusted advisors, and by promoting issues (school choice and marriage amendments) that cross-cut the blacks from other Democratic coalitions. Bush got…10-12% of the black vote for his troubles. The reality is that black voters are not open to persuasion and won’t be until they get tired of being used by the Democratic party. Until that day comes, spending any serious money or time pursuing them is a waste of resources. Sorry.

Hispanic voters are a different story. We may not be able to capture a majority of Hispanic voters. What we do need to do, however, is promote as much outreach as possible to keep up their motivation to work hard and achieve success through their own means (as opposed to government handouts). If they become dependent on the government, they’ll be another Democratic voting block, and their numbers are great enough that we’ll lose the country.

I know that on the state level, the Republican party has a thing called a “platform”. The party votes to approve this “platform” at the state-wide meetings. I believe it is a statement of “what we believe in” as a party. But, apparently, even if you claim to be a “Republican”, you don’t actually have to follow what is written in this “platform”. The more unbelievable part is, the state GOP doesn’t even enforce the “platform” when some of the candidates and those elected, don’t follow the “platform”.

Crazy stuff.

I wonder if the national level has one of these “platform” things and whether or not they actually make those who wear the “R” by their name abide by it.

jake-the-goose on December 3, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Well, maybe for a little while – until he announces his presidential run.

WEST / PALIN 2016! – – – PALIN / WEST 2016!

Pork-Chop on December 3, 2012 at 11:01 AM

Both Allen West and Sarah Palin have got to find high-profile positions that will keep them in the public eye and allow them to get their messages out to the American people. The RNC chairmanship might be a start, as it gets the chairman on the Sunday talk shows.

This is like Groundhog Day. We tried this silliness with putting Michael Steele at the helm the last go ’round; as we all know, he failed miserably. Here we go again, the color of his skin – Groundhog Day. Leave Reince alone; he’s done a fine job with the job he is tasked to do.

Watts, an African-American conservative who served in the House from 1994-2002, said the GOP defeat on Election Day demonstrates that Republicans need to broaden their appeal to minority voters, and cannot continue on their current path if the party is to be successful in presidential races.

The Okie is dumber than I thought …
The race card, “inclusion”, and Leftist “tolerance” from a “conservative”?
I got your “appeal” right here, Watts.
~(Ä)~

But, he had his shot, a long time ago, did an adequate job in the House back in the late 90’s, early 2000’s. But, his political star has faded.

Now, seems like tokenism.

The GOP has done this a time or two in the recent past…set up a new saviour and then let them hang alone when the going got tough. Remember that Vice Presidential candidate that was going to be “groomed” to be a fine and wonderful President in 2012 or 2016?

Can’t remember her name anymore.

Remember that MIchael Steele guy?

Seemed like he was going to be the salvation of the Republican Party…was going to get droves and droves of Blacks and such come over to the GOP.

Turned out to be mostly talk all hat, no cattle…and then turned into an Obama voter. Wasn’t content of character that changed his mind. No, suh. Was something more basic, raw, and quite depressing what turned him.

We’d be a lot better off in the long run to just let the GOP fade away like the Whigs and the Federalists and start anew from the ground up with several conservative or libertarian or federalist parties. Might take a generation, but the GOP is no longer the party of Lincoln, if it ever really was in our lifetime.

And trying to get conservatives enthusiastic by tossing a now-forgotten and somewhat lackluster token….

No.

Can no longer support what used to be the GOP.

Not so Grand anymore.

Just the old tired elephant in the living room no one wants to talk about.

Watts would be excellent, although Priebus wasn’t bad and should remain in some part of the leadership. Give Watts the resources to build up an ongoing powerhouse with appeal to conservatives of ll races.

The RNC didn’t have a credible GOTV effort in 2010 in the week before Election Day in those midterms, and ended up relying out outside groups to drive their message.

2010 was the biggest GOP win in history.

J.C. Watts skipped that year for a good reason we did great.

Perhaps outside groups do a much better job. Priebus sure did not help the Senate races in GOTV only Romney.

Do not understand why people try to make out like 2010 never happened it is not that long ago. You do not forget it I guess you just hate conservative Republicans and the fact they win and you well suck.

I’m sorry, I like J.C. a lot but I’ve also seem him struggle through too many interviews. He’s just not that good at articulating the message in a clear and succinct way. And I’m doubtful he’d be aggressive enough with a slimy media.

Dongemaharu on December 3, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Correct. Watts isn’t very articulate, and he’s not sharp or fast enough to counteract the slimy media. Well said.

I like J. C. Watts, but we shouldn’t elect him just because he’s black. To do so would be tokenism and that’s wrong on so many levels. Now if he’s qualified to run the RNC, then by all means let’s consider him.

I still like Reince Priebus (I mean, he even has that nice alien overlord sounding name) and he really hasn’t done anything wrong, as he pulled the RNC out of the fical hole. Granted ORCA was an unmitigated disaster, but it was our first GOTV program we tried to use. Instead of scaping it outright, let’s take a look at what went wrong and how can we fix it or build another system on what we learn about ORCA.

I’m sorry, I like J.C. a lot but I’ve also seem him struggle through too many interviews. He’s just not that good at articulating the message in a clear and succinct way. And I’m doubtful he’d be aggressive enough with a slimy media.

Dongemaharu on December 3, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Exactly. I thought a lot of J.C. until I got the opportunity to observe him in person during a couple of Congressional Testimony sessions. He was ill-informed and unprepared. It was not to the point of islands tipping over, but it wasn’t pretty.

This is the core issue. As with hispanics, conservative groups simply do not have a permanent presence in the big cities. They aren’t at the community board meetings, they aren’t forming after school programs, they aren’t going door to door in the projects. Liberals are. Until you stop being so scared of the inner city, you’ll wither along with the exurban and suburban populations.
ernesto on December 3, 2012 at 10:47 AM

Screw you for saying that Conservatives are racists. You think that because people want to leave the inner cities for a better life and lower taxes, they’re racists. Because they’re racists, the liberals will make them pay. The suburbs and conservative areas should pay for what happens in urban areas.

Stanley Kurtz wrote Spreading the Wealth: How Obama is Robbing the Suburbs to Pay for the Cities, and he addressed your liberal idiocy.

Watts complained that Republican efforts to reach out to minority groups have not been sustained or consistent during his 20-plus years as a politician, but rather are executed on ad hoc basis – usually in election years. In Watts’ view, and that of many other Republican leaders and party operatives, if the GOP doesn’t dramatically improve its image with black and Hispanic voters, it will not be able to win back the White House.

I disagree with Watts. The GOP may have a problem with relaying Conservative principles, but these principles are for everybody. And Conservatives welcome everybody.

Minorities who vote for liberalism aren’t breaking rank. When people like Mia Love and Star Parker are demonized by the black community, it’s not the fault of Conservatives.

J.C. has put a lot of thought into this over many years. One of the reasons he quit Congress was because he was tired of being the Republican Party’s token black guy that got trotted out for the TV shows. There was never a serious effort to include him in strategizing on policy. Tom DeLay said some horrible stuff behind J.C.’s back that did get back to him. I had a good friend who was on his staff so I know a little about his thinking and what went down there.

Mike Steele wanted the RNC chairmanship just to promote himself, and he did that very well but left the RNC broke and in shambles. He never had a broad base of supporters within the Party like J.C. has, and he really doesn’t know anything about policy.

I’m not sure J.C. has kept up his connections within the Party since leaving Congress, and so he might not be the best guy to take over the RNC. But he is someone who should be part of any longterm plan for GOP outreach to minorities.

I appreciate the job Reince Priebus did in fundraising, but the results of this election mean we need new leadership. Reince’s whole campaign for RNC chair was based on the job he supposedly had done rebuilidng the Party in Wisconsin, but Romney got shellacked there and we even lost a very winnable Senate seat to a far-left wackjob. He has to take some responsibility for that.

Look. If conservatives don’t build permanent infrastructure in the inner cities, you will be a permanent minority. Liberals are in the cities, they’re running youth programs, they’re going door to door, they’re organizing with their elected officials at a local level. Conservatives are doing none of that in the cities. With more and more people moving into the cities, what are you going to do? Stamp your feet while your voters disappear?

Do not understand why people try to make out like 2010 never happened it is not that long ago. You do not forget it I guess you just hate conservative Republicans and the fact they win and you well suck.

Steveangell on December 3, 2012 at 12:16 PM

For the same reason 2006 is not brought up as evidence of some massive liberal majority.

I have a better idea: stop kicking at Lucy’s football. If blacks want to cast their lot with the party of rotten public schools, permanent poverty, broken families, inner city violence, political corruption, gay marriage, abortion, record-high black unemployment etc. then let ‘em.

What exactly are we gaining from lining up every year to kiss the collective a$$es of the NAACP et.al.? Are we hoping they won’t call us racist? Are we deluding ourselves into thinking they’ll vote for us? No. They’ll keep voting for the party of Bull Connor and the aforementioned social & economic pathologies BECAUSE…

hang in there…

it’s coming…

wait for it…

THERE’S A FREE PHONE COMING.

We’ve already got one party that panders shamelessly to minorities on the basis of skin color. We don’t need two.

Look. If conservatives don’t build permanent infrastructure in the inner cities, you will be a permanent minority. Liberals are in the cities, they’re running youth programs, they’re going door to door, they’re organizing with their elected officials at a local level. Conservatives are doing none of that in the cities. With more and more people moving into the cities, what are you going to do? Stamp your feet while your voters disappear?

ernesto on December 3, 2012 at 1:43 PM

He’s right. Not that ernesto would applaud more black people voting for Republicans. If the Black vote split 70/30 like Hispanics a big chunk of Democrats would be wiped away. A 50/50 split and you couldn’t elect a Democrat dog catcher in 80% of the country. 50/50 and Democrats would be literally washed away, Red state Dems only exist in the cities and are carried through to governor with the black vote, they would cease to exist. No more Kathleen Sebelius’ to worry about.

John Boehner could use his pocket change of political capital and get the DC voucher program reinstated. But alas John Boehner is incompetent not a movement conservative. He is a Republican…

Look. If conservatives don’t build permanent infrastructure in the inner cities, you will be a permanent minority. Liberals are in the cities, they’re running youth programs, they’re going door to door, they’re organizing with their elected officials at a local level. Conservatives are doing none of that in the cities. With more and more people moving into the cities, what are you going to do? Stamp your feet while your voters disappear?
ernesto on December 3, 2012 at 1:43 PM

First, address your inherent hate of Conservatives and Conservative principles. You’re the one taking aim at people who are fleeing inner cities to live in the suburbs.

Next, explain the minority blocs that vote liberal. Conservatives can talk about freedom, liberty, God, and fiscal responsibility, but these blocs will still vote for liberalism and free stuff. And at the same time, these minorities will demonize their own for leaving the plantation and will demonize Conservatives regardless.

Conservatives may still have a message problem, but until the inner cities are willing to listen and have an honest discussion, nothing will help them.

Conservatives not being in the inner cities isn’t the problem. Anyone, including minorities, who votes for liberalism and free stuff is the problem.

Reince Priebus lost me when he turned a bad situation in MO into a fiasco. Yes, Akin was a flawed candidate, but here’s the thing: McCaskill was a thousand times worse. If you’re the RNC chair and you can’t see that…if you’re the RNC chair and you decide to stamp your foot, cut off funds, and hand a Senate seat to that thousand-times-worse candidate, then you have no business representing the party. Period.

J.C. Watts may or may not be the guy for the job, but please let’s not go down the road of using people for their skin color/ethnicity. The thing I liked about us was that we actually did judge people by the content of their character/skills and abilities. If we change that, we’re no better than the Dems. And as others have said, this pathetic strategy will not work. Members of minority groups who are conservative/Republican have the foulest, strongest attacks of all brought against them by Democrats in general and by members of their minority groups: they’re not seen as people to emulate or listen to; they’re seen as traitors. (The same is true for women.)

Finally, as someone who has spent a good amount of time doing volunteer work in the inner city of a major metropolitan area, let me just say that there is no quick fix to the minority voter issues we have in those urban centers. Earning the trust of the people in the inner city takes years and years of consistent outreach. And that’s just the first step. And we’re not just competing with Dems for the hearts and minds of the people in the inner city; we’re competing with groups like the Nation of Islam–and with gangs. It’s not just a matter of reaching out and educating people. There is often no stability and no sense of safety in those communities that would allow for people to have differing political loyalties. You think those who have the entitlement mindset are going to peacefully allow those who don’t to vote against more freebies and handouts?

But it’s more than that. Drugs, fatherlessness, and the constant threat of violence from gangs/rampant lawlessness have taken a huge toll on the people. Many have essentially given up on life and are caught up in a cycle of self-destruction. In that kind of environment, the victimhood mentality supported by the Dems and the entitlement lifestyle offered by the Dems will always trump the personal responsibility messages coming from Republicans.

By all means, let’s choose a guy who lost his last very winnable race by being sloppy and disorganized. Perfect guy to run a nationwide organization.

AngusMc on December 3, 2012 at 1:21 PM

“sloppy and disorganized”? You’re going to have to back that up with some sort of evidence or reference. Far as I know, the FL RINOs participated in the gerrymandering effort to eliminate his district / oust him from office. I’ve seen nothing in Col. West’s oeuvre that has been ‘sloppy’ or ‘disorganized’. Those are not traits that gets one to Colonel rank or Regimental command, nor elected to Congress in the first place. So I pretty much think you are full of shit and deliberately slandering one of the best men in the GOP, until you prove otherwise.

Conservatives may still have a message problem, but until the inner cities are willing to listen and have an honest discussion, nothing will help them.

Kyle_Reese on December 3, 2012 at 2:53 PM

But you have to GO AND TELL THEM YOUR MESSAGE before you can expect them to just accept it. You have to sell your message door to door, at community board meetings, at youth programs, etc. That’s the only way it’ll get through. Doing a quick ad buy a month before a presidential election won’t do a damn thing.

You can’t expect the inner cities to take up the message of people they never see, who never take their message to them. You’re just dismissing them as ignorant or incapable of understanding your enlightened political message. How are you going to win votes that way????

This is the core issue. As with hispanics, conservative groups simply do not have a permanent presence in the big cities. They aren’t at the community board meetings, they aren’t forming after school programs, they aren’t going door to door in the projects. Liberals are. Until you stop being so scared of the inner city, you’ll wither along with the exurban and suburban populations.

ernesto on December 3, 2012 at 10:47 AM

Why is the inner city so dysfunctional that it needs to be patronized like that? What went wrong?